Due to two years of cancellations because of COVID-19, the European Sauna Marathon returned to the Estonian sports and festival landscape in 2023, bigger and grander than ever before. Nearly 800 people from 22 countries participated, and for the first time, the sauna event spanned two days. A warm-up event with 7 saunas took place in Tõrva, and the main start of the marathon was given from the central square of Otepää.
The XII European Sauna Marathon in Otepää was organized by the Otepää municipality, Tõrva municipality, Otepää Cultural Centers, sauna owners with their team, and volunteers.
Partners and supporters of the Sauna Marathon included Lemmik Mees OÜ, Vytautas, Sky Plus winter radio, Tõrva Veemõnula, Kanal 2 – Reporter, Aasta Auto – Škoda dealership in Tartu, Tanker, Saunamaailm, 363 sport, Tehnoturg-T, and EstonianSaunas.com. Radio Ring FM kept an eye on the event.
The organizers of the XII European Sauna Marathon thanked the participating saunas: Naiskodukaitse military sauna in Helme, Lümatu farmhouse, Mulgi Experience Center, Kukula farm, Tõrva Veemõnula, Rahamäe holiday farm, Frodo sauna, Big Band sauna, Lemmikmees sauna, Estonian Saunas / HUUM, Orava sauna, Saunalahvka, Cantervilla Castle, Saku Karl sauna, Kirepi plastic sauna, Kirepi trailer sauna, Koeru saunas, Eco Oil, Kossumeeste sauna, KUUR straw sauna, Arvo Käre farm sauna, Rukkimaja, Right-wingers’ sauna, Linnamäe friends’ sauna.
